Union Service Unit has a "WICKED" good time in New Orleans

The stage is set, the thespians have taken their positions, the curtain rises dramatically- Lights, Camera, Action!!! Thirty four members of the El Dorado Union Service Unit dabbled in the arts this past weekend. They traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana May 31st through June 2nd to see the Broadway musical Wicked at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre.


Wicked is a musical based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy's arrival in Oz from Kansas and includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum's novel. Wicked tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch of the North), who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace. Winner of 35 major awards and three Tony Awards®, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times, 2010).


All the girls were anxious and excited about the trip to see the musical, but for four girls this trip was more than just about going to see Wicked. This was their first time traveling outside the state of Arkansas. Traveling out of state for the first time is fun and adventurous, because you never know what to expect. They experienced traveling with a group of people, while everyone got to submerge in the New Orleans culture. They tasted New Orleans cuisines, experienced the diversity of the arts, and visited the New Orleans French Quarter. Do you remember the first time you traveled to a different state or country?


The hard work these Girl Scouts put into their cookie season helped fund their trip, along with their garage sale. While planning this trip, the girls learned the values of making smart financial choices, the importance of personal communication, and the fundamentals of decision-making. These Girl Scouts will get the opportunity to earn their “Wicked” patch by identifying stereotypes and giving examples of good and evil from the musical. They are also required interview several people who may have encountered bias due to their race, gender, age, or abilities.


Sounds like the  Union Service Unit had a “wicked” good time this weekend! Check out some of their photos from their great weekend.